For What it's Worth---British Invasion, Woody and the Belldozer

July 21, 2013|Bruce Haertl

(WICHITA, Kan.) —

Tiger Woods has come from multiple strokes downon Sundayto win 14 times in his career, but he’s never done it at a major.In fact, Woods has never won a major that he didn’t have at least a share of the lead heading to the final round.

Keeping a stiff upper lip---

Earlier this month Andy Murray became the first Brit to win at Wimbledon in 77 years, today Britain’s Lee Westwood tries to win his first ever major on home soil.OK, so Westwood is English and the Open is in Scotland—but that’s splitting hairs.If Westwood can hold on and Chris Froome can simply stay on his bike in at the Tour De France it will cap an incredible month for the Brits---and that doesn’t even count the impending arrival of the royal baby. There are plenty of reasons to raise a pint at the pub these days.

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Makes me nervous---

With NFL camps set to open this week the Kansas City Chiefs are getting most of the rub for that ‘worst to first’ team that seems to regularly pop up in the NFL.The Indianapolis Colts fit the bill last year, but, for me, the phenomenon has as much to do with the balance of the league as it does a club’s improvement.Not to say that the Chiefs, on paper at least, haven’t improved themselves, but the difference between the best and worst in this league simply isn’t that great.Still, I’m old school about spouting expectations and even thought the Chiefs aren’t the one’s doing it when everyone else is--- it tends to tempt fate, if you believe in such things.

Love Tebow-mania---

Is it possible that the Patriots might actually welcome some form of Tebow-mania to help offset the maelstrom that’s coming in the form of questions about former teammate Aaron Hernandez?

C’mon Woody---

Woody Austin is having his best weekend on any tour this summer; it just happens to be at the British Open depleted Sanderson Farms Championship in Mississippi.The Willowbend Golf Club owner was leading the PGA event until he bogied two of the last five holes to fall two shots off the pace.This is the first cut that Woody’s made on the big tour this year and barring a total collapse he’s going to cash a really nice check.

Austin is on the verge of his 50thbirthday, but he continues to resist going to the Senior Tour because he likes competing against the world’s best.There’s not a player I cheer for more than Woody who’s one of the best guys I’ve known in sports.

For Whom the Bell tolls---

Blake Bell is ready to take the helm at the University of Oklahoma.The Bishop Carroll product is in his fourth year in the program at Norman where the pressure to perform is incredible.Landry Jones threw for nearly 17,000 yards for the Sooners, but he was regularly ripped in the media and by fans.What were his transgressions? He didn’t bring a Heisman or National Championship to OU, where there’s a very narrow margin for error.

Bell has been fan favorite in Norman, but the backup quarterbacks are always popular—as he becomes the man everything becomes magnified, both good and bad.Blake has only thrown 20 passes for the Sooners and has run for three times as many yards as he’s thrown for over the last two years in Norman.His is a steep learning curve, but it’s not like he hasn’t absorbed a ton as Jones understudy.He knows how deep the pool is that he’s stepping in to.HGihhnmnmIt not only takes a great talent to QB at OU, it takes a really confident, secure and talented guy---just like Bell.